Opener for milk cans and bottles.



M. M, HARD!NG., OPENER FOR MILK CANS AIND BOTTLES. APPucAnon man nap. 14, gen.

1 ,284;,666. E. Patentd NQV. 12, 1918.

MYRTLE M. HARDING, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

OPENER FOR MILK CANS AND BOTTLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Application filed December 14, 1917. Serial No. 207,156.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MYRTLE M. HARDING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Opener for Milk Cans and Bottles, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is adapted to be employed for removing paper or pasteboard caps of the kind commonly used on milk bottles, and for the purpose of puncturing holes in a can top to form a vent, and to form a pouring opening.

The invention aims to provide a novel form of puncturing prong which may be fashioned upon the end of a metal strip, the prong possessing the necessary strength and being so shaped and constituted that it may be employed for many purposes.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the-combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows in elevation the blank or strip out of which the tool forming the subject matter of this application is made;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the complete tool;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental longitudinal sec tion;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken mately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental elevation wherein the tool is viewed sidewise.

The tool forming the subject matter of this application is fashioned from a metal strip 1, having converging edges 2, forming an apex 3, and provided with transverse slits 4% at the inner ends of the converging edges 2, the slits 4 defining a body 5 and a tongue 6, the tongue being bounded by the converging edges 2. The sides of the approxi- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the tongues 6 are flexed toward each other to form outstanding wings 7 extending 'to the apex 3 and defining a pointed puncturing prong 8. The ends of the body 5, formed by the slits 1, constitute shoulders 9, which when the prong 8 is inserted into an object, such as the top of a can, engage the object and limit the entrance of the prong'thereinto. It is to be observed that the tongue 6is laterally inclined as shown at 10, to dispose the end edges 11 of the wings 7 at an acute angle to the body 5. The angles 12 formed by the edges 11 and edges 2 are so disposed, therefore, that they prove useful and efficient in hooking into and retaining an object of any kind. A pointed arm 14 is struck from the body 5 of the strip, the resulting opening being shown at 15. The arm 14 is offset from the body 5, as indicated at 16. The arm 14 is adapted to be used for lifting a pasteboard or paper closure out of a milk bottle, and the pointed prong 8 is used for puncturing a pouring opening or a vent opening in the top of a can. The upper end of the body 5 is fashioned into a handle 17 of any desired sort.

The construction is such that, although the stock out of which the tool is made, is not heavy, the prong 8 will, nevertheless, have the necessary stiffness and rigidity.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is A tool of the class described, fashioned from a strip having converging edges, forming an apex, and provided with transverse slits at the inner ends of the converging edges, the slits defining a body, and defining a tongue bounded by the converging edges, the sides of the tongue being flexed toward each other to form outstanding wings extended to the apex and defining a pointed puncturing prong, the ends of the body, formed by the slits, constituting shoulders which limit the insertion of the prong, the prong being laterally inclined with respect to the body, to dispose the ends of the wings at an acute angle to the body.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MYRTLE M. HARDING.

Witnesses:

BENJ'. F. CRIsnNBnRRY, FRED J. FRANCIS.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

